Chapter Summaries

After defeating Ke Changji, Meng Qi investigated the missing consignment tied to the Luo Sect and the Heaven Destroying Gate, but a skilled expert evaded his pursuit. Gu Changqing revealed that the consignment had been stolen by someone wearing a Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng mask, while a Six Doors agent secretly watched them.

• Meng Qi left Liu Shuyu and learned from Su Yue that the Divine Capital’s formation would be strengthened to guard against another assassination attempt.
• Meng Qi spied on the Central State Escort Agency as a bamboo-hatted man asked about a lost consignment, then followed him to a carriage.
• Two experts in the carriage detected Meng Qi and used a secret technique to escape his pursuit.
• Meng Qi left a secret mark near his meeting place with Gu Changqing and waited for him to arrive.
• Gu Changqing told Meng Qi that a masked person had subdued him and stolen the consignment; Meng Qi recognized the mask as Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng’s and arranged a place for Gu Changqing to hide.
• A man bearing a golden-eye insignia watched Meng Qi and Gu Changqing leave and concluded that Gu Changqing did not have the consignment.

Meng Qi investigated the lost escort item and learned from Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng that it could secretly steal the Power of All Beings, possibly aiding a prince. He returned to the Ruan residence wondering which Imperial Family experts might be involved.

• Meng Qi brought Gu Changqing to Marquis of Huan Manor, where Wang Wenxian discussed the missing escort item and revealed that the bodies bore traces of Illusion Annihilation Heavenly Demon and Six Annihilations Fallen God Palm.
• Meng Qi evaded a powerful pursuer by disguising himself among Langya Marquis Manor's servants, then returned to the Su Family and learned that the emperor would personally award him his Silver Badge the next evening.
• Meng Qi received a meeting time and place from Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng and secretly met him at a secluded residence.
• Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng confirmed that Immortal Trace took the escort item and explained that it could steal the Power of All Beings, which might support a prince's cultivation and fate.
• Meng Qi told Ruan Yushu what he had learned and asked which Exterior Scenery experts the Imperial Family had.

Ruan Yushu explained the Zhao Clan’s Half-step Dharma Body experts and helped Meng Qi understand why Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng had left a trail to draw the Luo Sect and Heaven Destroying Gate into a confrontation. Meng Qi then went to Six Doors Headquarters, where he met the emperor and Chief Constable Sima Shi, who asked him to recount his adventures.

• Ruan Yushu told Meng Qi about Zhao Wuyan and Zhao Jingshi and warned that a clash over the divided escort cargo was likely.
• Meng Qi realized Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng had exposed Immortal Trace’s involvement to lure the Luo Sect and Heaven Destroying Gate into the open.
• Ruan Yushu explained that the Divine Capital’s great formation could limit the experts’ power during a fight, giving Meng Qi a chance to help.
• At Six Doors Headquarters, Meng Qi met Qian Kai, Dragon Claw Divine Constable Ke Yuzhang, and Purple Roc Divine Constable Liu Shengming.
• Liu Shengming told Meng Qi that his father planned a banquet for the visiting Yu Family of Nanzhou, then escorted him to meet the emperor and Chief Constable Sima Shi.
• Meng Qi greeted the emperor and Sima Shi without kneeling, and Sima Shi asked him to describe his adventures in the martial world.

Meng Qi recounted his adventures to the Emperor and Sima Shi, received a protective talisman, and joined Su Ziyue and Su Zihua to meet the Yu Family. The encounter ended when a familiar Daoist appeared on the narrow road.

• Meng Qi told the Emperor and Sima Shi a selective account of his time in the martial world, and Prince Qi later judged him honest but spirited.
• Meng Qi chose the Nine Pivots Calamity Averting Talisman from the Six Doors treasure vault to protect himself from the Nine Heavens Thunder God.
• Su Li invited Meng Qi to the banquet for the Yu Family, and Su Ziyue persuaded him to accompany her and Su Zihua to meet them.
• The siblings met the Yu Family procession, including the old Uncle Yu, Yulong Zi, and her maidservant.
• Meng Qi recognized a refined Daoist crossing the road as Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun.

Immortal Trace ambushed the Jade Family, exposing Gu Xiaosang and the Luo Sect as they fought to seize the Sage Emperor Demon Token. Meng Qi faced the coachman and helped attack Gu Xiaosang’s formation, but a hidden assailant struck from behind and triggered the Divine Capital’s grand formation.

• Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun attacked the Jade Family Patriarch while Doumu Yuanjun charged through the guards and clashed with the experts protecting Gu Xiaosang.
• Meng Qi realized that the Jade Family was the Luo Sect’s public-facing clan and that Immortal Trace had discovered its secret.
• Meng Qi held off the coachman with his saber and reached a new level of mastery, while Su Zihua fought four Luo Sect experts and Su Ziyue was knocked unconscious.
• Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun grew two extra arms and joined Meng Qi in attacking Gu Xiaosang’s formation; Meng Qi’s saber cracked it, but Gu Xiaosang used Wusheng Laomu’s power to withstand their strike.
• A hidden attacker hit Meng Qi from behind and triggered the Divine Capital’s grand formation.

Meng Qi survived the Nine Heavens Thunder God's assassination attempt as Immortal Trace and the Luo Sect fought to escape the Divine Capital's forces. After returning to the Su estate, he found a hidden Immortal Trace member waiting for help and discovered that she was injured and wearing Doumu Yuanjun's mask.

• The Nine Heavens Thunder God attacked Meng Qi with a Heart-Piercing Nail, but Meng Qi survived by using the Nine Pivots Calamity Averting Talisman and the Eight-Nine Arcane Art.
• Sima Shi and Zhao Wuyan attacked Doumu Yuanjun as the Divine Capital's formation activated, while Gu Xiaosang, Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun, and other fighters escaped.
• Doumu Yuanjun used half of the Sage Emperor Demon Token to distract Zhao Wuyan, then escaped after Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng intervened against Sima Shi.
• The Divine Constables arrived, and Sima Shi ordered them to pursue Immortal Trace and the Luo Sect while Su Yue led Meng Qi and the others home for questioning.
• Meng Qi erased an Immortal Trace signal in the Su estate and found a masked woman in the woodshed who said she was seriously injured.

Meng Qi sheltered the injured Doumu Yuanjun, learned that she was Ye Yuqi of Huamei Villa, and helped her pass evidence of the Luo Sect to Yuan Lihuo. As the investigation ended, Su Li warned Meng Qi to focus on the Qionghua Banquet, while Gu Xiaosang confronted Liu Shuyu and revealed that Liu Shuyu had a daughter.

• Meng Qi brought the wounded Doumu Yuanjun to a quiet room in the Su Family's secondary residence, where she recovered and revealed that she was Ye Yuqi, the Ice Fairy of Huamei Villa.
• Ye Yuqi told Meng Qi that Master Lu had sensed something about reincarnation, warned him to protect the wooden carving, and gave him talismans containing the Great Luo Demoness's aura for Yuan Lihuo.
• Meng Qi met with Yuan Lihuo during the interrogation, secretly handed him a tracking talisman, and learned that Su Li had only been suspended from his post until after the Qionghua Banquet.
• Su Li told Meng Qi to focus on the Qionghua Banquet and stay out of other matters.
• Gu Xiaosang appeared in Liu Shuyu's room, revealed that she knew Liu Shuyu had deliberately leaked information, and warned her not to call for help.
• A little girl emerged from behind a screen and called Liu Shuyu Mother, leaving Liu Shuyu visibly shaken.

Gu Xiaosang revealed how she had used Liu Shuyu in her plans and persuaded her to sign a contract, promising to help her absorb Spiritual Qi. Meanwhile, Meng Qi resolved to avoid further trouble, but Cui Zhe arrived to invite him to the Pingjin Cui Clan residence.

• Gu Xiaosang explained that she had deliberately befriended Liu Shuyu and planted clues so Liu Shuyu would help lower the Immortal Trace’s suspicions and activate the formation.
• Gu Xiaosang proposed an alliance, offering to help Liu Shuyu absorb the little girl’s Spiritual Qi in exchange for up to three tasks, and Liu Shuyu signed a contract witnessed by a great power.
• After agreeing to help Liu Shuyu, Gu Xiaosang left with the little girl and dropped her friendly expression.
• Remembering Su Li’s warning, Meng Qi decided to focus on cultivation instead of seeking trouble in the Divine Capital.
• Cui Zhe, who had commissioned the carriage Meng Qi lost track of, visited the Su residence and invited Meng Qi to the Pingjin Cui Clan at the elders’ request.

Meng Qi learned from Cui Qingyu how the Sage Emperor Demon Token had reached the Divine Capital and discussed a suspected Mythos member with Qi Zhengyan. As August arrived, Meng Qi prepared to attend the Qionghua Banquet, where Fan Changmiao had challenged him to a match.

• Meng Qi met Wang Siyuan in Cui Zhe's carriage and visited the Pingjin Marquis's residence, where Cui Qingyu explained how a Cui disciple had entrusted half of the Sage Emperor Demon Token to the Central State Escort Agency.
• Meng Qi told Cui Qingyu about the previous night's battle, then left the residence and spotted Qi Zhengyan following a suspicious man.
• Qi Zhengyan told Meng Qi he suspected the man was Mythos's Tithe-Blessing Heavenly Official, and Meng Qi arranged to seek help tracking him down.
• Meng Qi encountered Fan Changmiao at a tavern, and Fan challenged him to give guidance at the Qionghua Banquet.
• Doumu Yuanjun recovered and departed, while Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng searched discreetly for Gu Xiaosang and the Tithe-Blessing Heavenly Official; Meng Qi cultivated until the Qionghua Banquet began in August.

Meng Qi accompanied the Emperor to the Qionghua Banquet, discovered signs that Gu Xiaosang might be hiding in the palace, and noticed Shaolin’s Xuan Zhen supporting the Crown Prince. The banquet began with a test of artistic talents, leaving Meng Qi worried that he would have no chance to fulfill his boast of victory in a martial contest.

• Meng Qi entered the Imperial City with Su Li and Su Yue, met Zhao Mingyu, and felt the talisman signaling that Gu Xiaosang might be nearby.
• Meng Qi discreetly showed the talisman to Yuan Lihuo, who understood that Gu Xiaosang could be hiding in the palace.
• At Jade Forest Garden, Meng Qi spotted Xuan Zhen beside the Crown Prince, alarming the Emperor and his attendants.
• Meng Qi greeted Wang Zai and watched as Zhao Mingyu announced four tests for the banquet, beginning with zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
• Meng Qi and Wang Zai joked about whether whistling counted as an artistic talent.

At the Qionghua Banquet, Yan Chong, Xuan Zhen, and Cui Zhe displayed their talents through tea, calligraphy, and flute, each revealing their State of Mind. Meng Qi then used focused carving to calm the crowd and earn the Old Emperor’s praise, and Ruan Yushu stepped forward as the contest continued.

• Yan Chong brewed and presented tea with tranquil movements, earning praise from the Old Emperor and Wang Zai.
• Xuan Zhen demonstrated calligraphy inspired by a Buddhist sutra and spoke about exploring the path to the other shore, putting the Aristocratic Clans on guard.
• Cui Zhe played a flute melody that immersed the audience in a lonely, melancholy scene.
• Meng Qi carved a wooden puppet with sincere concentration, calming the audience before sending the emperor a likeness of himself.
• The Old Emperor praised the rewards of sincerity in the martial way, and Ruan Yushu walked down with her guqin.

At the Qionghua Banquet, Ruan Yushu won the arts contest with her qin performance, and the Old Emperor introduced the Wordless Stele for the guests to comprehend. Yan Chong gained a breakthrough and the Crown Prince showed signs of nearing the Exterior realm, while Meng Qi and several others still awaited their turn.

• Ruan Yushu played Wild Geese Alighting on the Sandbank, drawing birds to circle and roost beside her qin.
• The Old Emperor awarded Ruan Yushu first place in the arts contest and presented the Wordless Stele as the next challenge.
• Wang Zai explained that the Wordless Stele could help those with sufficient cultivation and a nascent path unify their martial arts or gain deeper insight.
• After many guests failed to comprehend the stele, Yan Chong triggered a vision of tides and saber light and gained insight that would save him at least a year of effort.
• Prince Jin Zhao Yi gained nothing from the stele, but the Crown Prince caused golden lotuses to bloom and Sanskrit-like writing to appear on it.
• Meng Qi, Zhao Heng, Qi Zhengyan, Fan Changmiao, Xuan Zhen, and Bai Qigu remained among those who had not yet taken their turns.

Meng Qi’s insight into the Wordless Stele caused it to crack, making him the clear champion of the second challenge. The Old Emperor then announced a free-for-all combat trial, while Doumu Yuanjun sensed that it had begun.

• Fan Changmiao gained insight from the stele, followed by Xuan Zhen, Zhao Heng, Qi Zhengyan, and Bai Qigu, each producing a different manifestation.
• Qi Zhengyan fused his martial arts into a new move, impressing the gathered officials and clan scions.
• Meng Qi contemplated his path, and the Wordless Stele cracked after he finished, prompting the Old Emperor to name him the clear champion.
• The Old Emperor announced a free-for-all in Jade Forest Garden’s illusion array, where the last contestant remaining would win.
• Doumu Yuanjun opened her eyes outside the imperial palace and murmured that it had begun.

Meng Qi entered the Qionghua Banquet illusion, defeated five young scions, and fought Bai Qigu to a draw before sensing a genuine killing intent in the mist. Elsewhere, Gao Lan met Xuan Nü to discuss his past and the Sage Emperor Demon Token, while Liu Shengming entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony and saw a white-clad young woman on the Golden Throne.

• Meng Qi entered the illusion and routed Zhang Yuanli, Song Quanlüe, and three other young scions with a single exchange.
• Meng Qi and Bai Qigu fought on equal terms until both withdrew to find their allies.
• Meng Qi sensed true murderous intent as mist and darkness concealed him from the spectators.
• Gao Lan met Xuan Nü by a lake, revealed he had traded the Sage Emperor Demon Token to the Illusion Annihilation Heavenly Demon, and hinted that he had another item.
• Liu Shengming left Zhao Wuyan's quarters and entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where he saw a white-clad young woman seated on the Golden Throne.

Gu Xiaosang left the palace as Zhao Wuyan began using the Sage Emperor Demon Token to attempt to condense a Dharmakaya. At Jade Forest Garden, the Old Emperor trapped the Aristocratic Clans’ experts in a formation, while Meng Qi discovered that the apparent Ruan Yushu was an impostor and faced her sudden attack.

• Gu Xiaosang told Liu Shengming that the Luo Sect had fulfilled its aims and left the palace with the Lamp-bearing Divine Envoy.
• Zhao Wuyan used the Sage Emperor Demon Token to absorb the Divine Capital’s dragon energy as his Son of Heaven Dharmic Image merged with him.
• The Old Emperor sealed Jade Forest Garden in a formation, and Cui Qingyu realized he had joined forces with the Luo Sect and Heaven Destroying Gate to help Prince Qi.
• The Old Emperor explained that he had transformed the Power of All Beings for Prince Qi because the Aristocratic Clans would not allow him to become a Dharmakaya openly.
• Meng Qi recognized that the woman posing as Ruan Yushu carried an imitation of Perching Phoenix, and she struck at his brow.

Meng Qi fought a powerful Six Annihilations Demon while Zhao Heng and Qi Zhengyan faced opponents in the altered array. As the Nine Heavens Thunder God approached, Ruan Yushu refused to leave and began playing her qin to aid Meng Qi.

• Meng Qi blocked a surprise palm from the Six Annihilations Demon and was forced into a draining struggle against its Six Annihilations Falling-Deity Palm.
• Zhao Heng tried to rejoin his companions but was confronted by Bai Qigu and Yan Chong, who attacked him together.
• Qi Zhengyan met a monk from the Crown Prince's entourage and fought off his seals with his sword techniques.
• Cui Zhe warned Ruan Yushu that the array had become dangerous before being pulled out of it.
• Ruan Yushu found Meng Qi fighting the demon and spotted the approaching Nine Heavens Thunder God.
• Ruan Kang tried to pull Ruan Yushu out, but she chose to stay and played the Perching Phoenix Qin.

Meng Qi and Ruan Yushu fought deadly battles against the Six Annihilations Demon and the Nine Heavens Thunder God as allies converged on the crisis. Meng Qi unleashed a decisive saber strike, while the Old Emperor faced an attack from the Heavenly Emperor of Mythos.

• Ruan Yushu used Phoenix Cry Nine Heavens to hinder the Nine Heavens Thunder God, while Meng Qi risked injury to keep the Six Annihilations Demon occupied.
• Bai Qigu and Yan Chong left Zhao Heng after warning him that the formation was out of control, and Zhao Heng ran toward the phoenix’s cry.
• Qi Zhengyan severed his aura and headed toward the sound as the formation’s experts battled Sima Shi and the Old Emperor watched Zhao Wuyan absorb the Power of All Beings.
• Ruan Yushu played the first section of Heaven Splitting Earth Shifting Melody, but the Nine Heavens Thunder God broke free and attacked her; Zhao Heng arrived to intervene.
• Meng Qi deliberately endured the Six Annihilations Demon’s attack, revealed his Outer Scenery power, and split the demon with a saber strike.
• The Heavenly Emperor of Mythos appeared before the Old Emperor and slashed at him.

Meng Qi defeated Six Annihilations Demon, revealed him as Fan Changmiao, and helped his companions survive the interrupted Qionghua Banquet. Meanwhile, the struggle over the imperial palace ended with Zhao Wuyan consumed by chaotic lightning and the Old Emperor dying as the battle stopped.

• Meng Qi used Open Heaven and Earth to defeat Six Annihilations Demon, who was revealed as Fan Changmiao and died after warning Meng Qi to ask him in the underworld.
• Meng Qi gave Ruan Yushu a Great Return Pill, and Lord of Six Paths Samsara declared the main mission complete but required the team to remain for seven days.
• The Heavenly Emperor aged the Old Emperor and broke through the Divine Capital grand formation, while Zhao Wuyan defended the palace with the Emperor's Sword and Nine Dragon Seal.
• Cui Qingyu's sword attacked the palace, but Dharma King Dushi intervened and halted it in a stalemate.
• Doumu Yuanjun transformed the lightning around Zhao Wuyan into chaotic lightning, which consumed him and the nearby palace buildings.
• The battle abruptly ended, the Old Emperor died, and Sima Shi, the divine constables, and the other experts stopped fighting in confusion.

After the Divine Capital’s upheaval, Meng Qi learned why Su Li had sent him to Shaolin and arranged a banquet to seek a breakthrough rather than challenge the capital’s experts. He opened his Brow Aperture before the gathered guests as the sun vanished, while a swordlight rose from the Sword Washing Pavilion in the northwest.

• The Heavenly Emperor withdrew after clashing with the sentient divine weapons, and the great clans stopped Cui Qingyu from seizing power by force.
• After the array collapsed, Ruan Yushu’s uncle learned that Fan Changmiao had been the Six Annihilations Demon and sent men after the suspected Illusion Annihilation Heavenly Demon.
• Su Li told Meng Qi that he had sent him to Shaolin to protect him from the Emperor’s ties to the Luo Sect, and revealed that Su Ziyue belonged to the Tang Family of Longjun.
• Meng Qi invited martial artists to a banquet, prompting speculation that he would challenge the capital’s top Human Ranking experts to ascend to the heavens in one step.
• At the banquet, Meng Qi said he had invited the guests to witness a ceremony, then opened his Brow Aperture as darkness covered the Divine Capital and stars appeared.
• A swordlight broke free from the Sword Washing Pavilion in the northwest and illuminated a hundred li.

Meng Qi opened his Ancestral Aperture and endured four Heavenly Tribulations, culminating in a slash that split the descending chaos and revealed his Indestructible Yuan Shi Aspect. He returned to the hall as a newly ascended expert, while Jiang Zhiwei sensed his breakthrough and Liu Su also began advancing beyond the Half-step realm.

• Meng Qi opened his Ancestral Aperture, united his Inner World with the forces of nature, and drew Thunder Punishment down upon himself.
• Meng Qi cut through the lightning, expelled the Yin Fire, and endured the Golden Wind as the Divine Capital witnessed three Heavenly Tribulations.
• Meng Qi drew the chaos into his Inner World and split it apart with Heaven's Wound, completing the fourth tribulation and revealing his Indestructible Yuan Shi Aspect.
• Jiang Zhiwei sensed Meng Qi's breakthrough while cutting through the Golden Wind on her way down.
• Liu Su laughed at the idea of suppressing his thoughts, then began advancing beyond the perfect Half-step realm.
• Meng Qi descended, announced the name of his aspect, and strode off to change before returning to toast the others.